JP4908928B2 - Wireless ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that wirelessly transmits and receives data between an ultrasonic probe and an apparatus main body.

  There is known a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that wirelessly transmits echo data obtained by an ultrasonic probe to the apparatus main body (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In the wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a transmission antenna is attached to an ultrasonic probe, and a radio signal modulated by an ultrasonic signal or the like is transmitted into the space from the transmission antenna. Then, the radio signal is received by a receiving antenna provided in the apparatus main body, and the received signal is demodulated in the apparatus main body to perform image processing and the like.

  The wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is expected to dramatically improve the operability of the ultrasonic probe by eliminating the probe cable that connects the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body. However, it is a fact that there are some problems to be overcome in realizing the wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

JP 2004-141328 A JP 2003-265468 A

  In the wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, echo data is wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe to the apparatus main body. Therefore, for example, there may be a situation where echo data is not accurately transmitted / received due to some adverse effect on the wireless transmission path. In this case, the ultrasonic image displayed on the apparatus main body side may be disturbed.

  However, the cause of the disturbance in the ultrasonic image is not limited to that on the wireless transmission path. For example, there is a possibility that the ultrasonic image may be distorted when some trouble occurs on the ultrasonic probe side or when some trouble occurs on the apparatus main body side.

  That is, in the wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, for example, when a disturbance or the like occurs in the ultrasonic image, it is difficult to determine what is the cause.

  Further, even if it is found that the disturbance of the ultrasonic image is caused by a problem on the wireless transmission path, for example, a method for evaluating the wireless environment on the wireless transmission path has not been established.

  The present invention has been made in such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for measuring a transmission / reception state of data transmitted / received between an ultrasonic probe and an apparatus main body.

  In order to achieve the above object, a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that wirelessly transmits and receives data between an ultrasonic probe and an apparatus main body. The acoustic probe includes a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from the subject to acquire echo data, and a wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the echo data acquired by the transmission / reception unit to the apparatus main body. The apparatus main body includes a wireless receiving unit that receives echo data wirelessly transmitted from an ultrasonic probe, and an image forming unit that forms an ultrasonic image based on the received echo data. Test data for measuring a transmission / reception state of data transmitted / received between a probe and the apparatus main body is transmitted from one of the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body to the other. And features.

  In a preferred aspect, the ultrasonic probe wirelessly transmits standard test pattern data as the test data to the apparatus main body, and the apparatus main body receives test pattern data wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe and receives the received contents. And the transmission contents of the test pattern data known in advance, and thereby, a measurement amount reflecting the data transmission / reception state between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body is obtained.

  In a desirable aspect, the apparatus main body wirelessly transmits standard test pattern data to the ultrasonic probe as the test data, and the ultrasonic probe receives test pattern data wirelessly transmitted from the apparatus main body and receives the received contents. And the transmission contents of the test pattern data known in advance, and thereby, a measurement amount reflecting the data transmission / reception state between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body is obtained.

  In a preferred aspect, the measurement amount is an error rate of transmission / reception data obtained based on a difference between the received content of the test pattern data and the transmitted content of the test pattern data.

  In a preferred aspect, the ultrasonic probe transmits echo data, which has been subjected to error pattern processing for realizing a data error rate with a known size, to the apparatus main body as the test data. An ultrasonic image is formed on the basis of the processed echo data, and thereby the correspondence between the image state of the ultrasonic image and the error rate is evaluated.

  In a desirable mode, the ultrasonic probe transmits echo data subjected to data compression processing at a known data compression rate to the apparatus main body as the test data, and the apparatus main body converts the echo data subjected to data compression processing to the echo data subjected to data compression processing. Based on this, an ultrasonic image is formed, and thereby, the correspondence between the image state of the ultrasonic image and the data compression rate is evaluated.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to measure the transmission / reception state of data transmitted / received between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration thereof. The wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ultrasonic probe 10 and an apparatus main body 20, and echo data acquired by the ultrasonic probe 10 is transmitted to the apparatus main body 20 by radio waves through various signal processes. The

  First, the internal configuration of the ultrasonic probe 10 will be described. The ultrasonic probe 10 includes an ultrasonic wave transmission / reception unit 11 that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from a subject. An ultrasonic transmission circuit (not shown) is connected to the ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 11, and an ultrasonic pulse is transmitted toward the subject in accordance with a signal output from the transmission circuit. Then, the ultrasonic wave transmission / reception unit 11 receives a reflected wave (echo) obtained from the subject.

  The echo data forming unit 12 forms echo data based on the echo acquired by the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving unit 11. For example, the echo data forming unit 12 performs analog-digital conversion processing or the like on signals (echoes) obtained from a plurality of vibration elements included in the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving unit 11 to form echo data. The formed echo data is output to the radio signal processing block 13.

  The wireless signal processing block 13 is a block that performs signal processing on data transmitted and received between the ultrasonic probe 10 and the apparatus main body 20. For example, the echo data formed in the echo data forming unit 12 is subjected to beam forming processing, data compression processing, and the like and output to the wireless transmission unit 14.

  The wireless signal processing block 13 generates a test data for measuring a transmission / reception state of data transmitted / received between the ultrasonic probe 10 and the apparatus main body 20 and outputs the test data to the wireless transmission unit 14. It also has a function of processing a signal transmitted from the main body 20. The internal configuration of the radio signal processing block 13 will be described in detail later (using FIG. 2).

  The wireless transmission unit 14 performs digital modulation processing such as PSK (Phase Shift Keying) based on the data output from the wireless signal processing block 13. Then, the modulated signal is transmitted as a radio signal (radio wave) through processing such as power amplification. For example, a one-channel radio signal having a transmission carrier frequency of 60 GHz and a band of about 1 GHz is transmitted. The radio signal transmitted from the radio transmission unit 14 is received by the radio reception unit 25 on the apparatus main body 20 side. The internal configuration of the apparatus main body 20 will be described later, and the internal configuration of the ultrasonic probe 10 will be described. Continue.

  The wireless receiving unit 15 receives a wireless signal (radio wave) transmitted from the apparatus main body 20 and outputs the received data to the wireless signal processing block 13. The signal transmitted from the apparatus main body 20 includes, for example, a control signal for controlling the ultrasonic probe 10 from the apparatus main body 20 side and a transmission / reception state of data transmitted / received between the ultrasonic probe 10 and the apparatus main body 20. Test data for measurement.

  The operation panel 17 is a device that accepts user operations, and includes, for example, a plurality of button switches or a touch panel. The probe control unit 16 has a function of controlling each unit in the ultrasonic probe 10 and controls each unit in accordance with, for example, preset information or a user operation performed via the operation panel 17.

  Next, the internal configuration of the apparatus main body 20 will be described. The radio signal transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 10 is received by the radio reception unit 25 of the apparatus main body 20, subjected to digital demodulation processing such as PSK, and then supplied to the radio signal processing block 23.

  The wireless signal processing block 23 is a block that performs signal processing on data transmitted and received between the ultrasonic probe 10 and the apparatus main body 20. For example, the echo data wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe 10 is subjected to a data decompression process or the like and output to the ultrasonic image forming unit 22.

  The ultrasonic image forming unit 22 forms image data of ultrasonic images such as a B mode image, an M mode image, and a Doppler image based on the echo data. Then, an ultrasonic image corresponding to the formed image data is displayed on the display unit 21.

  The operation panel 27 is a device that accepts user operations, and includes, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like. The main body control unit 26 has a function of controlling each unit in the apparatus main body 20. For example, the main body control unit 26 controls each unit according to preset information or a user operation performed via the operation panel 27.

  Further, the main body control unit 26 transmits control information for controlling the ultrasonic probe 10 to the ultrasonic probe 10 as a radio signal via the radio signal processing block 23 and the radio transmission unit 24 as necessary. . For example, information such as a diagnosis mode set on the apparatus main body 20 side is transmitted from the apparatus main body 20 to the ultrasonic probe 10, and the ultrasonic probe 10 is controlled according to the information transmitted from the apparatus main body 20.

  The overall configuration of the wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment is as described above. Next, the internal configuration of the radio signal processing blocks 13 and 23 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the radio signal processing block 13 provided in the ultrasonic probe. Each of the six switching units from the first switching unit 102 to the sixth switching unit 120 has a switch function for appropriately changing the data flow.

  For example, the first switching unit 102 selectively supplies the echo data output from the echo data forming unit 12 to the transmission data processing unit 104 or the test data processing unit 130. The first switching unit 102 can also supply the data output from the test data processing unit 130 to the transmission data processing unit 104.

  The transmission data processing unit 104 performs transmission data processing on the data supplied from the first switching unit 102. For example, the transmission data processing unit 104 performs a phasing addition process on the echo data supplied from the first switching unit 102 to realize a digital beamforming function (or part thereof). Of course, the present invention is not limited to digital beam forming, and other processing functions necessary for echo data may be realized in the transmission data processing unit 104.

  Data processed by the transmission data processing unit 104 is selectively supplied to the compression processing unit 108 or the test data processing unit 130 via the second switching unit 106. Note that the second switching unit 106 can also supply the data output from the test data processing unit 130 to the compression processing unit 108.

  The compression processing unit 108 performs data compression processing on the data supplied from the second switching unit 106. For example, data compression processing is performed on echo data after beamforming supplied from the transmission data processing unit 104 via the second switching unit 106.

  Data processed by the compression processing unit 108 is output to the wireless transmission unit 14 via the third switching unit 110. Note that the third switching unit 110 can supply the data output from the test data processing unit 130 to the wireless transmission unit 14. The data supplied to the wireless transmission unit 14 is transmitted to the apparatus main body by a wireless signal.

  A radio signal transmitted from the apparatus main body is supplied to the radio signal processing block 13 via the radio reception unit 15. The sixth switching unit 120 selectively supplies the data output from the wireless reception unit 15 to the decompression processing unit 118 or the test data processing unit 130. Note that the sixth switching unit 120 may supply the data output from the test data processing unit 130 to the decompression processing unit 118.

  The decompression processing unit 118 performs data decompression processing on the data supplied from the sixth switching unit 120. For example, data subjected to compression processing on the apparatus main body side is wirelessly transmitted, and the data is supplied to the decompression processing unit 118 via the wireless reception unit 15 and the sixth switching unit 120. Then, the decompression processing unit 118 decompresses the data (compressed data is decompressed).

  The data processed by the decompression processing unit 118 is output to the reception data processing unit 114 via the fifth switching unit 116. The fifth switching unit 116 may supply the data processed by the decompression processing unit 118 to the test data processing unit 130, or supply the data output from the test data processing unit 130 to the reception data processing unit 114. May be.

  The reception data processing unit 114 performs reception data processing on the data supplied from the fifth switching unit 116. For example, the reception data processing unit 114 extracts a control signal from the apparatus main body side included in the data transmitted from the apparatus main body, and outputs the control signal to the probe control unit 16. Of course, other processing functions other than the control signal extraction may be realized by the reception data processing unit 114.

  Data processed by the reception data processing unit 114 is output to the probe control unit 16 via the fourth switching unit 112. The fourth switching unit 112 may supply the data processed by the received data processing unit 114 to the test data processing unit 130 or supply the data processed by the test data processing unit 130 to the probe control unit 16. May be.

  The test data processing unit 130 forms test data for measuring a transmission / reception state of data transmitted / received between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body. Further, the test data processing unit 130 obtains a measurement amount reflecting the transmission / reception state between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body based on the test data and the like. At that time, the test data processing unit 130 refers to the test pattern data stored in the pattern table 132 as necessary, and executes processing such as storing necessary data in the memory 134.

  In the present embodiment, various measurements relating to the transmission / reception state of data transmitted / received between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body are realized by using test data. Before describing some of them, radio signal processing blocks provided in the apparatus main body will be described.

  FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of the radio signal processing block 23 provided in the apparatus main body. As can be seen from the comparison between FIG. 3 and FIG. 2, the internal configuration of the radio signal processing block 23 of FIG. 3 and the internal configuration of the radio processing block 13 of FIG.

  Note that the radio signal processing block 23 on the apparatus main body side shown in FIG. 3 can process the data output from the main body control unit 26, and outputs the processed data to the radio transmission unit 24. It is possible. Further, the radio signal processing block 23 on the apparatus main body side can process the data supplied from the ultrasonic probe side via the radio receiving unit 25, and the processed data is subjected to ultrasonic image formation. It is possible to output to the unit 22.

  Also in the wireless signal processing block 23 of FIG. 3, each of the six switching units from the first switching unit 202 to the sixth switching unit 220 has a switching function for appropriately changing the data flow. In accordance with the data flow, data processing is executed in each of the transmission data processing unit 204, compression processing unit 208, decompression processing unit 218, and reception data processing unit 214. Further, the test data processing unit 230 executes a process related to test data for measuring a transmission / reception state of data transmitted / received between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body.

  Therefore, some specific examples of various measurements realized by the test data will be described with reference to FIGS. Before describing a specific example of the measurement realized by the test data (transmission / reception state measurement), first, a normal ultrasonic diagnosis example using the apparatus of the present embodiment will be described.

<Normal ultrasound diagnosis>
“Echo data forming unit 12 → first switching unit 102 → transmission data processing unit 104 → second switching unit 106 → compression processing unit 108 → third switching unit 110 → radio transmission unit 14 → radio reception unit 25 → sixth switching unit 220 → decompression processing unit 218 → fifth switching unit 216 → received data processing unit 214 → fourth switching unit 212 → ultrasonic image forming unit 22 ”

  When performing normal ultrasonic diagnosis, echo data formed by the echo data forming unit 12 is supplied to the transmission data processing unit 104 via the first switching unit 102 on the ultrasonic probe side. Then, after processing such as digital beam forming is performed in the transmission data processing unit 104, the processed echo data is supplied to the compression processing unit 108 via the second switching unit 106. Further, after data compression processing is performed by the compression processing unit 108, echo data is output to the wireless transmission unit 14 via the third switching unit 110 and transmitted to the apparatus main body by a wireless signal.

  On the apparatus main body side, the signal transmitted from the ultrasonic probe is received by the wireless reception unit 25 and supplied to the decompression processing unit 218 via the sixth switching unit 220. Then, in the decompression processing unit 218, the echo data compressed on the ultrasonic probe side is decompressed and supplied to the reception data processing unit 214 via the fifth switching unit 216.

  The reception data processing unit 214 performs processing necessary for ultrasonic image formation on the decompressed data. For example, the transmission data processing unit 104 on the ultrasonic probe side may perform the first stage beamforming, and the reception data processing unit 214 on the apparatus body side may perform the second stage beamforming. Further, when forming a Doppler image, the reception data processing unit 214 may perform processing for extracting Doppler information from echo data.

  Thus, the echo data subjected to data processing in the reception data processing unit 214 is supplied to the ultrasonic image forming unit 22 via the fourth switching unit 212, and ultrasonic image data is formed by the ultrasonic image forming unit 22.

  Incidentally, when performing a normal ultrasonic diagnosis, when transmitting a control signal or the like from the apparatus main body to the ultrasonic probe, the control data output from the main body control unit 26 is transmitted via the first switching unit 202. The data is supplied to the processing unit 204 and further supplied to the compression processing unit 208 via the second switching unit 206. Then, the control data processed by the transmission data processing unit 204 and the compression processing unit 208 is supplied to the wireless transmission unit 24 via the third switching unit 210, and is controlled from the wireless transmission unit 24 to the ultrasonic probe by a wireless signal. Data is sent.

  On the ultrasonic probe side, the control data is received by the wireless reception unit 15 and supplied to the decompression processing unit 118 via the sixth switching unit 120. Further, the data is supplied to the reception data processing unit 114 via the fifth switching unit 116. Then, the control data processed by the decompression processing unit 118 and the reception data processing unit 114 is supplied to the probe control unit 16 via the fourth switching unit 112. Thus, the probe control unit 16 controls the ultrasonic probe side in a mode instructed from the apparatus main body, for example, according to the control signal transmitted from the apparatus main body.

<Measurement Example 1: Measurement of transmission / reception data error rate>
“Test data processing unit 130 → third switching unit 110 → wireless transmitting unit 14 → wireless receiving unit 25 → sixth switching unit 220 → test data processing unit 230 → third switching unit 210 → wireless transmitting unit 24 → wireless receiving unit 15 → sixth switching unit 120 → test data processing unit 130 ”

  In this measurement example 1, first, standard test pattern data is output from the test data processing unit 130 on the ultrasonic probe side. The test pattern data is data for measuring a transmission / reception state of data transmitted / received between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body, and is registered in the pattern table 132 in advance, for example. Further, the user may input test pattern data via the operation panel (reference numeral 17 in FIG. 1) or the like, or the test pattern data may be input from another device (for example, a computer).

  The test pattern data output from the test data processing unit 130 is supplied to the wireless transmission unit 14 via the third switching unit 110, and is transmitted from the wireless transmission unit 14 to the apparatus main body side by a wireless signal. The test pattern data wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe side is received by the wireless reception unit 25 on the apparatus body side, and is supplied to the test data processing unit 230 via the sixth switching unit 220.

  The test data processing unit 230 compares the received content of the test pattern data with the previously transmitted content of the test pattern data. For example, the same test pattern data is stored in advance in both the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body, and the test data processing unit 230 stores the stored test pattern data and the test pattern data transmitted from the ultrasonic probe. Compare received content. Then, the test data processing unit 230 calculates the error rate of the transmitted / received data based on the difference between the received content of the test pattern data and the transmitted content of the test pattern data.

  The data error rate (code error rate) is calculated as “code error rate = (number of error bits) / (total number of bits of data)”. Here, the number of error bits is the number of bits that are different from each other between the received content and the transmitted content of the test pattern data, and the total number of bits is the total number of bits of the test pattern data.

  If the test pattern data can be accurately transmitted from the ultrasonic probe to the apparatus main body, there is no bit different between the received content and the transmitted content. However, when the transmission / reception state deteriorates due to the influence of an external radio wave or the like in the state of being wirelessly transmitted, the test pattern data is not accurately transmitted / received, and as a result, the bits that are different between the received content and the transmitted content. Will occur. The worse the transmission / reception state, the greater the number of bits that are different between the received content and the transmitted content. Therefore, the data error rate (code error rate) is a value reflecting the transmission / reception state between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body.

  The code error rate may be calculated by the test data processing unit 130 on the ultrasonic probe side. In this case, the received content of the test pattern data is supplied from the test data processing unit 230 to the wireless transmission unit 24 via the third switching unit 210 and returned to the ultrasonic probe side. Then, the returned content is supplied from the wireless reception unit 15 to the test data processing unit 130 via the sixth switching unit 120. Then, the test data processing unit 130 compares the received content of the returned test pattern data with the transmitted content of the test pattern data output by itself, and based on the difference between the received content and the transmitted content, Calculate the error rate.

  Further, the test data is output from the test data processing unit 230 on the apparatus main body side, the test data is wirelessly transmitted to the ultrasonic probe side via the wireless transmission unit 24, and the wirelessly transmitted test data is wirelessly transmitted on the ultrasonic probe side. The reception unit 15 may receive the data and the test data processing unit 130 may calculate the data error rate (code error rate). Thereby, the transmission / reception state of the communication path from the apparatus main body side to the ultrasonic probe side can be measured. And by independently measuring the transmission / reception state of the communication path from the ultrasonic probe side to the apparatus body side and measuring the transmission / reception state of the communication path from the apparatus body side to the ultrasonic probe side as described above, A transmission / reception state is measured for each communication path, and a path suspected of having a communication failure can be specified in more detail.

  Thus, in the measurement example 1, the code error rate is calculated by the test data processing unit 130 or the test data processing unit 230 as a measurement amount reflecting the transmission / reception state between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body. The calculated error rate may be displayed in real time on the display unit (reference numeral 21 in FIG. 1) of the apparatus main body, stored in the memories 134 and 234, or printed out, for example. Good.

  Further, the transmission content of the test pattern data transmitted from the ultrasonic probe side is stored in the memory 134, and the reception content of the test pattern received on the apparatus main body side is stored in the memory 234. , 234, the code error rate may be calculated by an external computer or the like by outputting the data to an external computer or the like.

  Further, a function for reporting how to generate a code error, such as whether or not there is continuity in error generation, may be realized based on the code error rate. This is because, for example, an error rate frequently generated many times and an error rate generated in a burst manner may have different generation mechanisms even if the error rate value is the same.

  Further, the wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus may be controlled based on the calculated error rate. For example, when performing diagnosis by forming an ultrasound image according to the data flow described in <Normal ultrasound diagnosis example> above, a dead time during diagnosis, for example, a time period during which echo data is not wirelessly transmitted , The code error rate is periodically calculated according to the data flow described in <Measurement Example 1>.

  Then, when the code error rate calculated periodically becomes larger than a predetermined value, for example, processing corresponding to the deterioration of the transmission / reception state is executed. For example, processing for switching the carrier frequency of a radio signal between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body, processing for adjusting the angle of the receiving antenna on the apparatus main body side, and the like are executed. Alternatively, processing for further adding an error correction code to be added to data transmitted from the ultrasonic probe, processing for enhancing the transmission output of a radio signal, or the like may be performed.

  When the code error rate is larger than a predetermined value, a control signal notifying that the transmission / reception state has deteriorated is transmitted from the apparatus main body to the ultrasonic probe, and the echo data is stored in the memory 134 on the ultrasonic probe side. The processing stored in the above may be executed. Thereby, it becomes possible to form an ultrasonic image based on echo data stored on the ultrasonic probe side and confirm the image content later.

<Measurement Example 2: Evaluation of Correspondence Relationship between Image State and Error Rate>
“Echo data forming unit 12 → first switching unit 102 → test data processing unit 130 → first switching unit 102 → transmission data processing unit 104 → second switching unit 106 → compression processing unit 108 → third switching unit 110 → wireless transmission Section 14 → wireless reception section 25 → sixth switching section 220 → decompression processing section 218 → fifth switching section 216 → received data processing section 214 → fourth switching section 212 → ultrasonic image forming section 22 ”

  In this measurement example 2, the echo data formed by the echo data forming unit 12 is supplied to the test data processing unit 130 via the first switching unit 102. The test data processing unit 130 performs error pattern processing on the supplied echo data to realize a data error rate with a known size.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining error pattern processing. For example, it is considered that the echo data formed by the echo data forming unit 12 is a code group shown in FIG. The test data processing unit 130 performs error pattern processing on the echo data of FIG. 4A according to the error pattern shown in FIG.

  The error pattern shown in FIG. 4B is stored in advance in the pattern table 132, for example. The error pattern shown in FIG. 4B means that the code in FIG. 4A corresponding to the code 1 is inverted for the code 1 indicated by the broken line frame. That is, in the echo data of FIG. 4A, the code of the portion corresponding to the code 1 of FIG. 4B is inverted, and as a result, the code group (the echo after error pattern processing) shown in FIG. Data) is formed.

  The echo data after error pattern processing shown in FIG. 4 (C) inverts some codes (codes indicated by a broken line frame in FIG. 4 (C)) of the original echo data of FIG. 4 (A). This is a code group that intentionally realizes a data error rate (code error rate) with a known size.

  In Measurement Example 2, if the error rate is known, the error pattern may not be fixed. For example, the test data processing unit 130 may randomly generate an error pattern so as to achieve a specified error rate, and perform error pattern processing based on the pattern.

  The echo data subjected to the error pattern processing in the test data processing unit 130 is supplied to the transmission data processing unit 104 via the first switching unit 102. Then, after processing such as digital beam forming is performed in the transmission data processing unit 104, the processed echo data is supplied to the compression processing unit 108 via the second switching unit 106. Further, after data compression processing is performed by the compression processing unit 108, echo data is output to the wireless transmission unit 14 via the third switching unit 110 and transmitted to the apparatus main body by a wireless signal. Thereby, the echo data to which the error data is intentionally added is transmitted to the apparatus main body.

  On the apparatus main body side, the signal transmitted from the ultrasonic probe is received by the wireless reception unit 25 and supplied to the decompression processing unit 218 via the sixth switching unit 220. In the decompression processing unit 218, the echo data compressed on the ultrasonic probe side is decompressed, supplied to the reception data processing unit 214 via the fifth switching unit 216, and further processed in the reception data processing unit 214. The data is supplied to the ultrasonic image forming unit 22 via the fourth switching unit 212, and ultrasonic image data is formed by the ultrasonic image forming unit 22.

  The ultrasonic image forming unit 22 forms an ultrasonic image based on echo data to which error data is intentionally added. The above processing is performed for each error rate while changing the data error rate, and an ultrasonic image is formed for each error rate, whereby the correspondence between the image state and the error rate can be evaluated. For example, it is possible to evaluate the upper limit of the error rate at which the image content can be recognized, and to measure the margin of error rate in the current circuit system.

  In measurement example 2, the test data processing unit 130 realizes a data error rate with a known size. For this reason, it is not desirable to add a data error of unknown size between the wireless transmitter 14 of the ultrasonic probe and the wireless receiver 25 of the apparatus body. Therefore, in order to avoid adding a data error of unknown size, in the measurement example 2, the wireless transmission unit 14 and the wireless reception unit 25 may be connected by wire.

  In the measurement example 2, the test pattern data may be read from the pattern table 132 or the memory 134 and used instead of the echo data formed by the echo data forming unit 12.

<Measurement Example 3: Evaluation of Correspondence Between Image State and Data Compression Ratio>
“Echo data forming unit 12 → first switching unit 102 → transmission data processing unit 104 → second switching unit 106 → test data processing unit 130 → third switching unit 110 → radio transmission unit 14 → radio reception unit 25 → sixth switching Section 220 → test data processing section 230 → fifth switching section 216 → received data processing section 214 → fourth switching section 212 → ultrasonic image forming section 22 ”

  In this measurement example 3, the echo data formed by the echo data forming unit 12 is supplied to the transmission data processing unit 104 via the first switching unit 102. Then, after processing such as digital beam forming is performed in the transmission data processing unit 104, the data is supplied to the test data processing unit 130 via the second switching unit 106. The test data processing unit 130 performs data compression processing on the supplied echo data at a known data compression rate. The data subjected to the compression process is output to the wireless transmission unit 14 via the third switching unit 110 and transmitted to the apparatus main body by a wireless signal.

  On the apparatus main body side, a signal transmitted from the ultrasonic probe is received by the wireless reception unit 25 and supplied to the test data processing unit 230 via the sixth switching unit 220. The echo data compressed on the ultrasonic probe side is decompressed and supplied to the reception data processing unit 214 via the fifth switching unit 216. Further, the data processed by the reception data processing unit 214 is supplied to the ultrasonic image forming unit 22 via the fourth switching unit 212, and ultrasonic image data is formed by the ultrasonic image forming unit 22.

  The ultrasonic image forming unit 22 forms an ultrasonic image based on echo data that has been subjected to compression processing and decompression processing at a known data compression rate. The correspondence between the image state and the data compression rate can be evaluated by performing the above process for each compression rate while changing the data compression rate and forming an ultrasonic image for each compression rate. For example, it becomes possible to evaluate the upper limit value of the data compression rate. Further, for example, by setting the compression rate to 0 and transmitting / receiving echo data in a state where no compression is performed, application to evaluation of circuits other than the compression / decompression circuit system can be expected.

  In measurement example 3, it is not desirable to add a data error between the wireless transmitter 14 of the ultrasonic probe and the wireless receiver 25 of the apparatus body. Therefore, in order to avoid adding a data error of unknown size, in the measurement example 3, the wireless transmission unit 14 and the wireless reception unit 25 may be connected by wire. Further, in order to remove the influence of the wireless transmission unit 14 and the wireless reception unit 25, data is directly transmitted from the third switching unit 110 on the ultrasonic probe side to the sixth switching unit 220 on the apparatus body side by wired connection. May be.

  Also in Measurement Example 3, test pattern data may be read from the pattern table 132 or the memory 134 and used instead of the echo data formed by the echo data forming unit 12.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, embodiment mentioned above is only a mere illustration in all the points, and does not limit the scope of the present invention.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention. It is an internal block diagram of the radio signal processing block with which an ultrasonic probe is provided. It is an internal block diagram of the radio | wireless signal processing block with which an apparatus main body is provided. It is a figure for demonstrating an error pattern process.

Explanation of symbols

  13, 23 Radio signal processing block, 104, 204 Transmission data processing unit, 108, 208 Compression processing unit, 118, 218 Decompression processing unit, 114, 214 Reception data processing unit.

Claims (2)

In the wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that wirelessly transmits and receives data between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body,
The ultrasonic probe is
A transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives ultrasonic waves to / from a subject to acquire echo data;
A wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the acquired echo data to the apparatus body; and
Have
The apparatus main body is
A wireless receiver for receiving echo data wirelessly transmitted from the ultrasonic probe;
An image forming unit that forms an ultrasonic image based on the received echo data;
Have
Test data for measuring a transmission / reception state of data transmitted / received between the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body is transmitted from one of the ultrasonic probe and the apparatus main body during a time period in which echo data is not transmitted wirelessly. is transmitted is received on the other hand, if the error rate of reception data calculated from the sent and received test data is greater than a predetermined value, said control signal indicating that the reception state has deteriorated from the apparatus main body Transmit to the ultrasonic probe, and execute processing to store the echo data in the memory on the ultrasonic probe side,
A wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1,
The ultrasonic probe transmits the test data to the apparatus main body,
The apparatus main body receives the test data transmitted from the ultrasonic probe, compares the received content with the transmission content of the test data known in advance, and compares the difference between the received content and the transmitted content. Calculating an error rate of the transmitted / received data based on
A wireless ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

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